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Bv MIKE ADASKAVEG of the JI StaffThree-time former NASCAR National Modified championCarl “Bugsy” Stevens of Rehoboth, Mass. made history Friday night at Stafford Speedway when he drove a Ford-powered modified stock car to victory in the 30-lap feature event.Stevens made history because his car was the first Ford to win a feature event at the Speedway in recent history.The way Stevens won the feature came as a surprise to Geoff Bodine fans, who thought Bodine. the 1975 Stafford Champ, would be picking up his first feature win of the season.Bodine passed race-leader Ron Bouchard with six laps to go. Bouchard, driving a Chevrolet-powered Vega modified, went high in the second turn and let Bodine and Stevens sneak underneath him.Stevens raced bumper-to-bumper with Bodine for the next three laps. On the white flag lap, Stevens pulled inside Bodine going through the first turn and pulled into the lead on the backstretch.Bodine, driving a Chevrolet-powered Pinto modified, made a last second attempt to grab the checkered flag when he pulled alongside Stevens coming down the home stretch.The win put an end to Stevens' long drought at Stafford. The top winning driver at Stafford in 1972 and 1973, Stevens was in a slump over the last two seasons. Since 1972, he has been driving for the same car owner — Rhode Island's John “Sonny” Koszela.The modified feature saw two caution flags fly. The first was when Riverside Park Speedway regular Billy Knight blew a motor going down the front chute early in the main event. The second yellow flag flew when Brian Ross also blew a motor going down the front straightaway. Ross was making a strong bid for fourth behind Bodine, Stevens, and Bouchard midway through the event. On the restart, Bouchard passed Bodine and Stevens, who both passed him again later in the feature.Behind Stevens and Bodine at the finish were Bouchard and Fred DeSarro. DeSarro, the reigning track champion, had a skip in the motor of his Len Boehler Vega slow him down. Fifth went to Dick Caso, who was followed by Jerry Cook, Phil Spiak, Ray Miller, Ed Flemke, Jr. and Johnny .Anderson. Modified heats went to Bodine, Stevens, and Bouchard.The street stocks main event was won by Pat Chambrello, who was chased across the finish line by Dave Fiske and Mike Barnard. The street stock heats were won by Ed Griswold and Chambrello.In the limited sportsman division, Southington's Paul Cianci scored his second victory of the season. Second was Gary Stavens of Vernon, followed by John Falconi and John Jarush.
Newspaper Details
Journal Inquirer
Manchester, Connecticut, US
Sat, May 21, 1977
Page 33
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USA 27 Mar 2021
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